Vibrator



T. H. MORGAN Feb. 10, 1959 VIBRATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1956 INVENTOR Feb. 10, 1959 "r. H. MORGAN 2,872,902

VIBRATOR Filed Feb. 20, 1956 Sheets-Sheet 2 W 46 49 3f 58 66*!1 4g 50%;??

I 63 I m 2 3,9 38 35 5/ 4'0 30 3! W J? fa Thomas H Marga/7 1N VENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. -10, 1959 T. H. MORGAN 2,872,902

VIBRATOR Filed Feb. 20. 1956 3 SIieets-Sheet a Thomas ff Marga/7 INVENTOR v United States Patent VIBRATOR Thomas H. Morgan, Dallas, Tex. Application February 20, 1956, Serial No. 566,518

1 Claim. (Cl. 121-17) This invention relates to air cushioned vibrators of the inertia type and it has particular reference to vibrators especially useful in supplying the high frequency reciprocating motion necessary in the conveyance and clas- Isiiltgication of materials, including ores, minerals and the The principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pneumatically operated vibrator of the reciprocating type, which is quiet in operation and attains high frequency with minimum air consumption.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vibrator in which a lubricationless piston of the air cushion reverse type is disposed for non-mechanical jet rotation in its cylinder and whose movement in each direction is stopped by an air cushion which renders the operation virtually noiseless.

Another object of the invention is to prevent scoring and to equalize wear of the piston and its cylinder by constantly rotating the piston while it reciprocates in the cylinder under the energy supplied by air under pressure with which both rotation and reciprocation of the piston is accomplished.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds when considered with the annexed drawing wherein:

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the vibrator showing it connected to a shaker frame.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. .3;

Fig. 6 is side view of the vibrator supported on its standards; and

Fig. 7 is a side view of the vibrator.

Referring now to the drawing, the vibrator 20 is shown supported on a pair of side standards 22 which may be substantially triangular in shape and secured at their lower ends to a fixed structure 23. The standards are provided at their upper ends with matching grooved blocks 24 and 25 whose grooves are adjusted to receive the transverse shafts 26 of the vibrator. The blocks 24 and 25 are secured together by bolts 27 which may be loosened to rotate the vibrator about the axis of the shafts 26 to vary the plane of the vibrator as desired.

The vibrator 20 includes a cylinder 30 of cast iron, or other suitable substance whose open ends are closed by heads 31 and 32. The heads also close the open ends of a sleeve 33 which is disposed about but spaced from the cylinder, the side edges of the sleeve being releasably secured by latches 34 secured to one side of the sleeve which engage a head 35 formed at the edge of the adjacent side of the sleeve. The space between the sleeve and the cylinder is filled with fibrous material 36 which acts as a sound absorberv for air which escapes from within the cylinder 30 through exhaust slots or ports '37 and 38 of the cylinder. A pair of screens 39 are disposed exteriorly of the exhaust ports to prevent the fibrous filler 36 from clogging them;

The heads are securely and rigidly secured to the sleeve in airtight relation by tie bolts 42 and 43 which pass through aligned apertures in the heads, through cylindrical spacers 44 and aligned apertures in a mounting plate 45. Nuts 46 threaded onto the ends of the tie bolts 42 and 43 cooperate with washers 47 to hold the headers, mounting plate and cylinder in rigid relationship.

The inner surface of the cylinder 30 is provided 'with an internal annular recess or groove 50 into which air under pressure is introduced through an inlet pipe 51 which extends through a suitable aperture in the sleeve 33 and whose open inner end communicates with an inlet port 51 in the cylinder. pipe and inlet port have a center which is perpendicular to the radius of the piston 55, slidably disposed in the cylinder 40, so that the jet of air passing through the inlet port 52 is projected perpendicularly onto the faces 56 formed by the recesses 57 spaced annularly on the outer surface of the piston sleeve 58. The faces lie in planes radial to the central longitudinal axis of the piston.

The piston 55 is formed of the piston sleeve 58 whichv is made of graphitic substance such as is obtainable under the trade name Graphitar, and a central steel core 60 which are rigidly connected by an intermediate thick sleeve or layer 60 of type metal or the like. Graphitar is employed for the reason that it obviates the need for oiling and lubrication which is most important where high frequency exhaust impulses are used in concentration applications eliminating removal of oil vapors before used on absorbent permeable substances.

The type metal is cast integrally with the outer piston sleeve and the core while the latter are positioned in proper relationship relative to one another. The outer piston sleeve has an internal flange 62 while the core has annular grooves 63 which, once the type metal has solidified, prevent longitudinal movement of the outer sleeve relative to the core.

spaced that when the piston moves longitudinally and the outer recess 66 or 67 is in communication or alignment with the annular recess 50 of the cylinder, the other is out of alignment or registry therewith and vice versa.

.The piston is provided with a plurality of air passages 68 which communicate with the outer recess 66 and open at the end of the piston adjacent the header 32. A plurality of similar air passages 69 communicate with the outer recess 67 and open at the end of the piston adjacent the header 31.

It will n w be apparent that if air under pressure is projected into the annular recess 50 through the inlet pipe 51 and port 52 and directed onto the faces 56, the force of the air impelled onto the faces will cause the piston to rotate about its longitudinal axis. The air will then flow in the annular recess 50 and into the annular outer recess 66 or 67 of the piston which is in registry with the cylinder recess 50. For example, if the piston is in the extreme left position shown in Fig. 3, the air flows into the outer piston recess 67 and then through the passages 69 of the piston into the cylinder between the header 31 and the left end of thepiston. Since the exhaust port is now open to atmosphere, the air moves the piston to the right which movement closes the exphere. After the closing of the exhaust port 37, the

, Patented Feb. 10, l9 59 It will be noted that the inlet expansion of the air". which',Was thus compressedfandt by, the'air from"'tlie airinietSIQ sincewhen thepist-on ap-9- proaches the header- 32; the outer piston. recess 677is' movedi'out"ofregistryf with" the cylinder annular recess and the uter piston recess 66 'is moved into such registry and""since the exhaust'portiwf is their opened. This operation alternately reciprocates .thepiston.

In orde'rlto insure thatltli'e piston SSbe. at an extreme positiomor' oil-center, at the start of operations, the. header SIm-ay be provided withan inlet port 76"equiinpedi with-.a check valve.-.71,whereby air under pressure'may be,' admitted "'to the left end 'offthe, cylinder through; a

flexible hfoseflitz, tomove:thepistonito the right to an. off'fcenter-position soth at when airis then admitted through thetinlet port 52;,th'e piston will move to the.

left initially, and gathersufiicient momentumto cause reciprocating movement thereof to be sustained ltiwillibe notedTtliatthe .piston -will rotate constantly,

so. that scoring ,of the piston .and .cylinder willbe minimizedfwhile AvearthereoFwill be equalizedover their fullv annulari'surfa'ces thus" prolonging, the life of the vibi'ator and'idecreasingz.the required "maintenance.

Lbngitudiiial movement of th'e vibrator-T20 "is' "permitted bythe mounting thereof by means of a1 supporting rectangulir frame .75 rig'idly securedlto the transverse shafts 26. The rectangular supporting frame .has alignedpairs of apertures 'in its end members '7 6'and'77 throughwhich" exte'ndth'e. mounting bolts 73. Thesmountingbolts '78:

extend "through. aligned aperturesfin the headers .31 and 32 andith'rotrgh spacerleeves 79""and sawnose adjacent? flanged ends" bear against the headers '31and'32, respec-' tively.

The spacer, sleevel79is slidably fsupporte d"in oilite sleeve bearings fifcarri'edi'b'yf sleeves SZthreaded "indust'" caps 83 which are. rigidly mounted on the endimernber 76"'of.the.supportihgjframe by means of bolts84' passing fianges-85 of the. dust caps:

spring 88whichextendsnabout thespacer sleeves 79"'bear against the endfianges89"thereof"andiagainst;

washers 9.0 which bear againstlthe sleeves 81 and82 biasthe spacer sleeve- 79"anditherefore bias .the-Jvibrator t wardimovement to th'egright. A corrugated icylindrical dust cover 9l, ,whichmay be ofrubben'extends overthe spring,88;ithe endffianges. 89"and "rings. 92 to protect thev springs.- SBI and the spacer; sleeves 79*f1o1n "foreign?" matter.- The rings 92ers mounted onthe endmember 76.1'by, bolts 84 which extend through .fianges T93 of the rings,

Thespacer sleeves 84) are .slida'bly"suppoited'iir'oilite slevefbearings 94*carried by}.sleeves 95 'which'are rigidly,

mounted'bn the endrnember 7'7 ofI'the frame by means of bolts 96 Which passthrough'suitable apertures'in'the annular flanges 97 of the sleeves 95.

Springs 98 which extend about the spacerslecves'S)-" bear against the end-flanges 99 of the spacer sleeve "81 andlag'ainsfwashers iltltlwhichbear against the sleeves 95 and ftherefbrexbias the vibrator'toward movement toward the left? Corrugated"cylindricaldustcovers102,

which may be of rubber; extendAover th'e springs 98, the

end.fianges.99 andrings 163" to protect the springs 98' and spacer sleeves Shagainstfreign matter. The rings 103"aremounted"on the end member 77'bymeans'ol the bolts% 'whichiextend through annular ilanges'f104;

The outer 'endsof Ithe spacer sleeves stl'abut the inner surfaceiofthe.mounting"plate dS'while the mounting.

bolts 78'lextendbeyondthe spacer sleeves Stithrough' member" 166 of a shaker platform .or tray. 107.

Nuts 108. on the threaded," ends of i the mounting bolts. hold the-"cylinder'flfij the spacer sleeves 79*and 80, the. mount:

through. suitable apertures in .the end member "andthe;

inggplate "45andtheshaker frame 107 in: rigid "relational ship so that these elements move longitudinally as a unit 'u'nde'rthe influence of the movement of the piston.

The outer ends of the spacer sleeves are provided with end sleeves 109, secured thereto by set screws 110. Corrugated dust covers 111 extend over the end sleeves 109 and the sleeves 95 to protect the outer ends of the spacer sleeves. It will be apparent that the various corrugated covers may be bonded to--'their' 'supporting elements by use of an adhesive.

It will now be seen that reciprocating movement of the piston 55tw-ill=result :infireoitprocatihg movement of the cylinderQO-mgether with all of the elements rigidly assembled thereon or thercwithl For example, if thepiston 55 moves to thewight, the air'scompressed between the right end of the piston and the header 32 will impart a force to the header 32 which will tend to move the spacer sleeve toward the right against the resistance of thespringfidfl As a result, the.mounting. .plate,45 andthe.. shaker frame.17' willals'o move to the right. Wlienthe direction rat-movement of the piston is reversed to the left," the air compressed between the left end of the piston andfth'e header 3iwill' impart a forceto the header 31 which will'tend'to move the spacer sleeve 79: toward the leftagainstthe resistance of the-springs 88f As alresult the mounting ,plate 45. andi'the .shak er frarne 167" will" now" move towardth'e left. T he supporting... frame, 75 of? the vibrator, .of cou'rse, remainsstationa'ry, sinceait isrrig idly mounted on the-standards 2215v The springs .88 and, 98"keep the. cylinder 1 assemblymentered between the end members 76 and 7 7 "thereof.

Itwill' be' apparent now that a new. and iimprovedi vibrator has been describedand illustrated wherein the piston"55"is notdirectly and rigidly connected tothe. shaker 107 and that the reciprocatingmovcment of the piston transmits forces through the, agency; of .'a com pressible nan; such as air,'to the cylinder assembly. in

which the" piston moves, the cylinder. assembly being;

rigidly connected to the shaken, It'wilbalso.beapparent that the activating fluid not only causesreciprocatingj,

movement of the piston but also rotary ,movement whereby scoring of the. piston, and. cylinder isv minirnized.-,. Moreover it will'be apparent that the plane .of, they vibrator may-,be easilyphangedby loosening ,the bolt'sll, pivoting the vibrator frame 75 about theshafts 26 toth e. desired plane or. angle and thentighteniugth'e b'olts.27l"

It willbe further seen thatthe vibrator will'fb'e substantially noiseless due to thecushioning, cflFect of I the air caught between the ends of the piston and the headers so that the pistonvnever strikes the headers during-goperation, and due also to the exhaust silencing {seecolumn l, lines .70, 71, 72 and column-2, lines 1, 2, and 3)! The frequency of vibrationcambe controlled by proper dimensioningof'the piston, the greater themass offthe. piston in relation to its cross-sectional area, ,thedlower the. frequencyof vibration. The length of ,the piston; of course, influences .the. mass, sothatthe piston is made. shorter wherehigher frequencies of vibration are desired and "longer, where lowenfrequencies-are. desired; Ith'as been determinedthathighestenertiafbrces relative. to" fr'equency, are attained by so. forming the vpiston that its. diameter will equaljvor almost equal the length thereof, since negativeresultslare known toobtain where.the length" is greater than, the diameter.

Manifestly, the construction as .shown' and described is capableof some modification andisuch. modifibati'onas may be construed to fall withinth'e scope andmeaning. ofthe appended claim .is also considered to be within the spirit andi'intent oflthe invention.

What isclaimed is:

Avibrator includinga cylinderand a piston recipro-' cable thereimsaid cylinder and "piston. having 'coacting, portsand Ipassagesoperable to supply fluidto .the cylinder" to reciprocate "T the: piston to produce vibrating 'motionz and means on the piston tactedmn by" the fluid "for "producingjotatibnfof the' pjston' in-"the"cylinderabout "an'axis" References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hammond Sept. 12', Pickop Oct. 29, Newport et a1 Aug. 31, Robinson Apr. 26, Dillmann Jan. 2, Becker Apr. 2,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Aug. 10, 

